Just wondering if anyone has come across this scenario, been losing a bit of oil ended up being just under 2 quarts low after 4k miles. I noticed when I heard the upper lifters ticking...

First noticed the oil bunig smell when I installed my K&N, I disconnected the blowback line into the intake but no difference.

Get a burning smell under WOT, doesn't matter if its at 5k or 3k rpm. Anyone ever have a similar issue? Hope I haven't burnt out a ring, car still runs fine although since the low oil scenario the idle has been slightly rougher. Upper lifters tick is slightly noticeable only when hood is up as compared to the 3.2L in my concorde, but I'm not sure if I'm just paranoid since I'm pretty sure I cannot destory the 3.2L.

Could it be a bad PCV valve? I don't see what else it could be other than the special PCM straining the hell out the 3.5L.

If not, likely PCV valve and/or hoses or valve stem seals. Any smoke out the exhaust at startup or when you punch it after decelerating (you can't always see it from the driver's seat - people following you would really see it).

I used to get a burning oil smell coming off the highway. Oil was being consumed but no leaks on the ground. The cause was a thin crack in the oil pressure sender. With the high oil pressure of highway driving oil would leak out the crack, drop down onto the right exhaust and burn up. Low speeds and idle didn't generate enough pressure for oil to leak out the crack. I imagine over time the crack may have gotten bigger until it would have, or even catastrophically failed, but I replaced with a new oem sender first. I wasn't able to see the crack itself, only the presence of oil on the sender after some high speed revving in the laneway. Some good folks have posted more information about where the sensor is, if you think it's worth checking out.

I used to get a burning oil smell coming off the highway. Oil was being consumed but no leaks on the ground. The cause was a thin crack in the oil pressure sender...worth checking out.

Good point.

Also - you say the front of the plenum is wet with oil. If you have the Manifold Tuning Valve, it is probably its o-ring leaking oil. That could be your problem. My 3.2 had that leak (it is common), and the oil would find its way to the undercarriage (almost invisibly drip down the front of the engine).

This is the only problem of my car. I am losing oil 200ml per 300 miles of run. No leaks and I checked my hood and the PCV valve looks fine and the hose looks fine... I am not seeing any problems at all where the oil goes and all of my hoses are intact. It just disappear and can't figure where it goes... I need some help. I hate putting oil in my car once a week.

This is the only problem of my car. I am losing oil 200ml per 300 miles of run. No leaks and I checked my hood and the PCV valve looks fine and the hose looks fine... I am not seeing any problems at all where the oil goes and all of my hoses are intact. It just disappear and can't figure where it goes... I need some help. I hate putting oil in my car once a week.

Was the PCv valve ever replaced? If it was, and with an OEM one, there is defect in some of those that will definitely cause oil usage.

Any smokey exhaust at startup or when accelerating, like to pass, after decelerating? With the lack of rear visibility, from the driver's seat, you may never see it, but someone driving behind you would if it's happening.

I just fixed mine I was loosing oil and smelling it burn but not out the tail pipe! I didn't have any visual leaks! It took a little over a year until it got bad enough I could find it! Both valve covers were leaking in the back corners and dripping on the manifolds and the cat's and I found oil around the spark plugs so I replaced and sealed the tubes and new valve cover gaskets! So far no smells and no leaks but I've only driven it 1200 miles! how many miles on he car? I have 206000 on mine!

I just fixed mine I was loosing oil and smelling it burn but not out the tail pipe! I didn't have any visual leaks! It took a little over a year until it got bad enough I could find it! Both valve covers were leaking in the back corners and dripping on the manifolds and the cat's and I found oil around the spark plugs so I replaced and sealed the tubes and new valve cover gaskets! So far no smells and no leaks but I've only driven it 1200 miles! how many miles on he car? I have 206000 on mine!

Interesting to see this thread kicking around.

For my problem it is indeed burning quite a bit, but it varies depending on my driving habits (i.e. how badly I beat the car).

I'm starting to think that it probably is valve seals on the passenger side head, because I think the K&N filer I installed had a pinch in the crank vent hose (which eventually cracked, the original line used for the factory airbox) probably from building up too much pressure and causing a ruptured seal on cylnder 5.

Car is still chugging along, if it survives the winter it will have some TLC in summer 2013. Got to meet up with a fellow member with an LHS whom installed 1st gen manifolds and the two cars were dead even from a roll.